散关之上，亦有军兵，公统领之。
There are already troops beyond the Pass, who will be under your command,
目下拨三千马步军，命臧霸为先锋，星夜前去，不可稽迟。”
and now I will give you three thousand of horse and foot, and Zang Ba shall lead the van and march quickly."
徐庶辞了曹操，与臧霸便行。
Xu Shu took leave of the Prime Minister and left in company with Zang Ba.
此便是庞统救徐庶之计。
This was Pang Tong's scheme to secure the safety of Xu Shu.
后人有诗曰：“曹操征南日日忧，马腾韩遂起戈矛。
A poem says: [hip, hip, hip]Cao Cao marched south, but at his backThere rode the fear of rear attack.
凤雏一语教徐庶，正似游鱼脱钓钩。”
Pang Tong's good counsel Xu Shu took,And thus the fish escaped the hook. [yip, yip, yip]
曹操自遣徐庶去后，心中稍安，遂上马先看沿江旱寨，次看水寨。
Cao Cao's anxiety diminished after he had thus sent away Xu Shu.
Then he rode round all the camps, first the land forces and then the naval.
乘大船一只于中央，上建帅字旗号，两傍皆列水寨，船上埋伏弓弩千张。
He boarded one of the large ships and thereon set up his standard.
The naval camps were arranged along two lines, and every ship carried a thousand bows and crossbows.
操居于上。
While Cao Cao remained with the fleet,
时建安十三年冬十一月十五日，天气晴明，平风静浪。
it occurred the full moon of the eleventh month of the thirteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 208).The sky was clear; there was no wind; and the river lay unruffled.
操令：“置酒设乐于大船之上，吾今夕欲会诸将。”
He prepared a great banquet, with music, and thereto invited all his leaders.
天色向晚，东山月上，皎皎如同白日。
As evening drew on, the moon rose over the eastern hills in its immaculate beauty,
长江一带，如横素练。
and beneath it lay the broad belt of the river like a band of pure silk.
操坐大船之上，左右侍御者数百人，皆锦衣绣袄，荷戈执戟。
It was a great assembly, and all the guests were clad in gorgeous silks and embroidered robes, and the arms of the fighting soldiers glittered in the moonlight.
文武众官，各依次而坐。
The officers, civil and military, were seated in their proper order of precedence.The setting, too, was exquisite.
操见南屏山色如画，东视柴桑之境，西观夏口之江，南望樊山，北觑乌林，四顾空阔，心中欢喜，谓众官曰：“吾自起义兵以来，与国家除凶去害，誓愿扫清四海，削平天下；所未得者江南也。
The Southern Hills were outlined as in a picture; the boundaries of Chaisang lay in the east; the river showed west as far as Xiakou; on the south lay the Fan Mountains, on the north was the Black Forest.
The view stretched wide on every side.
Cao Cao's heart was jubilant, and he harangued the assembly, saying, "My one aim since I enlisted my first small band of volunteers has been the removal of evil from the state, and I have sworn to cleanse the country and restore tranquillity.
Now there is only left this land of the south to withstand me.
今吾有百万雄师，更赖诸公用命，何患不成功耶！
I am at the head of a hundred legions.
I depend upon you, gentlemen, and have no doubt of my final success.
收服江南之后，天下无事，与诸公共享富贵，以乐太平。”
After I have subdued the South Land, there will be no trouble in all the country.
Then we shall enjoy wealth and honor and revel in peace."
文武皆起谢曰：“愿得早奏凯歌！
They rose in a body and expressed their appreciation, saying, "We trust that you may soon report complete victory,
我等终身皆赖丞相福荫。”
and we shall all repose in the shade of your good fortune."
操大喜，命左右行酒。
In his elation, Cao Cao bade the servants bring more wine
饮至半夜，操酒酣，遥指南岸曰：“周瑜、鲁肃，不识天时！
and they drank till late at night.Warmed and mellowed, the host pointed to the south bank, saying, "Zhou Yu and Lu Su know not the appointed time.
今幸有投降之人，为彼心腹之患，此天助吾也。”
Heaven is aiding me bringing upon them the misfortune of the desertion of their most trusted friends."
荀攸曰：“丞相勿言，恐有泄漏。”
"O Prime Minister, say nothing of these things lest they become known to the enemy," said Xun You.